Creamy Silken Tofu Lemon Pasta with Peas
In short: A silky sauce of blended silken tofu, lemon and garlic coats pasta and sweet peas. A vegan weeknight dinner that is on the table in 25 minutes. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Silken tofu blends into a smooth, mild cream that coats pasta like a classic white sauce, with far less fuss. Here it is whizzed with olive oil, lemon, garlic and nutritional yeast, then loosened with starchy cooking water so it clings to every piece. Peas cook in the same pot for the last few minutes. The result tastes fresh and bright, which makes it a good dinner for warm evenings.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for the time on the packet, adding the peas for the last 3 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, put the silken tofu, 3 tablespoons of the oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper in a blender. Blend for 1 minute until completely smooth.
- Scoop out 250 ml (1 cup) of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and peas.
- Return the pot to low heat and pour in the tofu sauce with 120 ml (1/2 cup) of the pasta water. Warm it for 1 minute, stirring, without letting it boil.
- Tip in the pasta and peas and toss for 1 to 2 minutes, adding more pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce is glossy and coats the pasta.
- Divide among four bowls, drizzle with the last tablespoon of oil and scatter over the basil and a grind of pepper.
Tips
- Use silken tofu from a carton and not firm tofu, which gives a grainy sauce. Soft silken works too, but the sauce will be thinner, so use less pasta water.
- Add chopped asparagus, baby spinach or a handful of toasted pine nuts in the last minutes of cooking for variety.
Questions and answers
Does silken tofu sauce taste like tofu?
Only faintly. The lemon, garlic and nutritional yeast cover the beany flavor, and most people notice a creamy, mild sauce.
Can I reheat leftover tofu pasta?
Yes, for up to 3 days in the fridge. The sauce thickens as it cools, so reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or plant milk.
Can I use gluten-free pasta?
Yes, the sauce is naturally gluten-free. Use a corn or rice pasta and save a little more cooking water, because gluten-free pasta absorbs sauce quickly.
How long does it take to make Creamy Silken Tofu Lemon Pasta with Peas?
About 25 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Creamy Silken Tofu Lemon Pasta with Peas?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 18 g of protein, 71 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 470 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
